Writing/ B1 Writing lessons and / How to write an email to a friend giving news
B1 English Writing Guide
From: Amy
Subject: Quick update from me 🙂
Hi Chris,
It's been a while! How are you doing? Thanks for your last email. Sorry I didn't reply sooner but I've been very busy. I thought I'd drop you a line to say 'hi' and tell you about what I've been up to.
Things are going OK for me. Work is the same as usual. I've been doing a lot of overtime and saving money, so hopefully, I'll be able to afford my own place this time next year. I've also been trying to get fit, so I've been jogging twice a week and I've joined a gym. I've lost a few kilos already so I'm quite pleased about that. By the way, I went to Exeter to visit my mum last week, and you'll never guess who I ran into. Marsha and Ian! I couldn't believe it. They send their love. We went out to a nice restaurant by the harbour to catch up. Ian's got a new job. He's working in a lab doing research and he loves it. Marsha hasn't been well lately. She's been feeling very tired, and she's been to the doctor a few times. But don't worry, it's all good news. She's pregnant! Isn't that great?
And what about you? How are you getting on in your new job in Italy? How long have you been there now? Three months? I hope you've found a nice place to live and met some interesting people. How are you finding the language? I must go now; I have to catch a train. Please, get in touch and let me know all about Italy.
Love,
Amy
Kind regards,formal
Best,casual
All the best,casual
Talk soon,casual
Cheers,casual
Love,close friends
Use for recent events (exact time not mentioned):
Use for ongoing repeated actions:
Common time words: for, since, recently, yet
Keep your tone warm and natural. Use contractions (I've, haven't), friendly phrases (drop a line, you'll never guess), and the present perfect for recent news. Always end by asking about your friend!
✨ Friendly emails build strong connections—keep writing! ✨